Longitudinal Waves In a longitudinal wave, the motion of the medium is parallel to the direction of the wave . This means that the particles move left and right which in turn makes the other particles start to oscillate. Sound waves are longitudinal waves. Another example of a longitudinal wave is a P wave or primary wave during an earthquake. P waves are also known as compressional waves, because of the pushing and pulling they do.
Longitudinal and transverse waves are mechanical waves, so both carry energy through particles of matter. Longitudinal waves transfer energy parallel to the direction of wave motion, and transverse waves transfer energy perpendicular to the direction of wave motion.
